purpose

pur·pose

(pûr′pəs)

n.

1. The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or goal: Her purpose in coming here is to talk to you. The purpose of an airliner is to transport people. See Synonyms at intention.

2. Determination; resolution: He was a man of purpose.

tr.v.pur·posed, pur·pos·ing, pur·pos·es

To intend or resolve: "the gap between what is said and what is purposed"(Ian Donaldson).

Idioms:

on purpose

Intentionally; deliberately.

to good purpose

With good results.

to little/nopurpose

With few or no results.

[Middle English purpos, from Anglo-Norman, from purposer, to intend : pur-, forth (from Latin prō-; see pro-1) + poser, to put; see pose1.]

purpose

(ˈpɜːpəs)

n

1. the reason for which anything is done, created, or exists

2. a fixed design, outcome, or idea that is the object of an action or other effort

purpose - an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions; "his intent was to provide a new translation"; "good intentions are not enough"; "it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs"; "he made no secret of his designs"

The picture represents a Cape-Horner in a great hurricane; the half-foundered ship weltering there with its three dismantled masts alone visible; and an exasperated whale, purposing to spring clean over the craft, is in the enormous act of impaling himself upon the three mast-heads.

With a fair, fresh wind, the Pequod was now drawing nigh to these straits; Ahab purposing to pass through them into the Javan sea, and thence, cruising northwards, over waters known to be frequented here and there by the Sperm whale, sweep inshore by the Philippine Islands, and gain the far coast of Japan, in time for the great whaling season there.

I closed up alongside of a burly fellow with a fat good-humored face, purposing to make myself agree- able and pick up some further crumbs of fact; but I had hardly more than scraped acquaintance with him when he began eagerly and awkwardly to lead up, in the immemorial way, to that same old anecdote -- the one Sir Dinadan told me, what time I got into trouble with Sir Sagramor and was challenged of him on ac- count of it.

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